SCCA Solo Trials #1... I was on fire! (Literally)

[Weston]

I started a new ricer trend today: Screw flames out the exhaust, it's all about flaming wheels. Those pro Porsche racers on TV get their rotors glowing red hot, but I go a step further... I do that AND engulf the wheels in flames!

So, now you may be wondering: "how do I do this tizzite mod?" Well, like most rice I see, it too can be found at AutoZone. Go buy yourself some nice $15 semi-metalic brake pads (lifetime warranty, so you can flame all you want), then go out to Second Creek on a hot day and do 5 or so full speed laps. Just don't blame me if the rest of the car catches fire or your brakes don't stop you.

I was 7 seconds behind the class leader and took 8th place, which I suppose I can't be too frustrated about seeing as how this is a more serious and experienced group of racers and I had to at least double my regular braking distance because of the flame throwers (and I still almost ran off course). I'm told they were going to black flag me, but it was my last lap, so it didn't matter. The new suspension felt absolutely awesome though.

BTW, I got away with several more laps at Second Creek in the winter with the same kind of pads, so figured I could do it again today. The warm weather makes a pretty big difference, as I found out.

[Weston]

And there were a few other casualties today too... Keith apparently blew his engine or something, the Lincoln blew his engine (sounded like a spun bearing), an 80's VW broke down during parade laps, a Grand Prix spun off the track then it came back on in the wrong spot and almost got creamed by a Miata, and a Type-R put it's two rear wheels in the dirt twice but recovered both times.

[taikahn]

Ok, its sunday morning, im about to head out to trials --- and I read this...

eheh

Now I'm scared.....

:eek:

Should be fun though ---- Im gonna be carefull, its my first time *ever* on a real race track...

[SleeperZ]

Woohoo! That's why I got good brake pads. I ran some carbon-kevlar units, still braking well after 10-12 laps of thrashing.

[taikahn]

No fires today ---

Al spun off course first run... he was bummed... had to replace tire with spare.. also, his passenger side control arm and sway bar is fucked.... and his rear passenger tire has positive camber now ... :D

My brake pads didnt ignite but were smoking like a blunt... smelled mmm mmm good.

That was fun as shit though ... first time on a race track for me, ever.

[Talonstylz]

Damn weston! Get any pics of your flamin teg? I remember the first time i went out there and ran around. I ran about 5 or 6 laps haulin ass and ended up losin my brakes on the front stretch goin about 105 or so. Had to use the runoff road, didnt catch on fire, but i was smokin like hell though. What kind of Lap Times were you runnin out there?

[taikahn]

Originally posted by Talonstylz
Damn weston! Get any pics of your flamin teg? I remember the first time i went out there and ran around. I ran about 5 or 6 laps haulin ass and ended up losin my brakes on the front stretch goin about 105 or so. Had to use the runoff road, didnt catch on fire, but i was smokin like hell though. What kind of Lap Times were you runnin out there?

I think weston ran a low 90 yesterday --- maybe an 89 --- weston? you around...

Today with a slalom box of cones on the back straight I ran 91 and hit a cone... and a 92 without, good for 4th STS out of 6, small crowd today.

The OSP class (sorta similiar to STS) was hauling ass... there slowest driver out of 9 was like a 88 or somethin.... crazy.

... of course the Z06 vette(s) ran 80's ... I think there was one car under 80... not sure though ... the scoring today was a clusterfuck.

[Weston]

It turns out that my fire was because of the shims on the back of my pads... These ones are just stuck on with adhesive, which is what burst into flames. The pads were pretty glazed going out there, so stopping distance wasn't great to begin with, then all that heat made things much much worse.

When I went to Second Creek in the winter, I had the same kind of pads, but their shims were bent around the edges of the pad rather than being stuck on with flammable adhesive. So, that's why I smoked like crazy but didn't have flames that time. I'll definately have performance pads before I go to Second Creek again.

I believe my best time was a low 92 (clockwise, with the Kamakazee turn coned to slow it down) on my second to last lap, which I think was just before the fire started. I'm kind of frustrated because I know I could have been much more competitve in my class if it weren't for my brake issues which caused me to have the stopping distance of an 18-wheeler.

And I'm hoping someone got a picture of my brakes on fire, but I don't know yet... I'll post pics of some of the damage in a little bit...

[Weston]

Alright, here are the pics of the damage:

Blistered Caliper (http://www.vMac.org/~weston/teg/Misc/2003-06-14/Blistered Caliper.jpg)
Melted Center Cap (http://www.vMac.org/~weston/teg/Misc/2003-06-14/Melted Center Cap.jpg)
Burnt Brake Pads (http://www.vMac.org/~weston/teg/Misc/2003-06-14/Burnt Brake Pads.jpg)

[Talonstylz]

Ouch!! Lets hope someonee got a pic of the pads on fire, should be good wallpaper material :D

[RAB]

Originally posted by taikahn


The OSP class (sorta similiar to STS) was hauling ass... there slowest driver out of 9 was like a 88 or somethin.... crazy.



As in OSP means other street prepared and the cars im OSP for some reason can't be fit in to ASP, BSP, or CSP as with STS can't be fit into stock classes.

I hope that's what you mean and not that the cars in OSP and STS are similar.

[Weston]

Everyone was running OSP to get around the Solo I safety requirements for their regular classes.

[Weston]

Here are a bunch of pics from Saturday (http://www.apeximportracing.com/misc/apps/yappa-ng/index.php?album=ApexAutoXPics%2F%2F20030614). Hopefully RAB's brother will add some pics of me before too long...

[taikahn]

Originally posted by RAB
As in OSP means other street prepared and the cars im OSP for some reason can't be fit in to ASP, BSP, or CSP as with STS can't be fit into stock classes.

I hope that's what you mean and not that the cars in OSP and STS are similar.

It's a catch all --- a formerly sts car with internal engine mods for example would be in OSP... Thats what I meant.

[CSMsi311]

i went and watched my first autocross event back in Houston a few weeks ago. We were able to walk to course and the tar patches in some places were turning back to liquid.